Lyondell Chemical Company, through its Equistar Chemicals plant in Beaumont, has awarded three scholarships to Lamar University’s College of Engineering. In addition to the scholarships, the three students will be given consideration for an internship position at Lyondell facilities, said Randal Tatum, plant manager for Lyondell’s Beaumont plant.
“Lyondell is seeking quality students interested in pursuing a career in the chemicals manufacturing business,” said Tatum. “Lamar provides the petrochemical and refinery industries with quality talent and a strong work ethic required for our business.”
Lyondell is one of the nation’s best companies for college graduates seeking to launch their careers, according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company features Lyondell in the new 2007 edition of its annual guidebook, "Best Entry-Level Jobs" (Random House / Princeton Review Books).
Lyondell entry-level hires are pleased by how quickly the chemical company integrates them “into essential and challenging functions,” according to the book. As a result, Lyondell “is great for those of us who enjoy challenges and responsibility” and a company “at which employees hope to stay for a long time.”
The department chairs nominated scholarship recipients from Lamar’s chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering programs, said Ron Peevy, director of recruiting for the college and its cooperative education program.
Robert Hallam is studying chemical engineering. The salutatorian from Jasper High School is a member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers is a College of Engineering ambassador and participates in Lamar's Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and Orchestra. He works part time as a student assistant in the engineering advisement office and will intern this summer at Lyondell's Bayport, Texas Plant. He plans to graduate in May 2008.
David Hall is an electrical engineering major and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Beaumont. Now a junior at Lamar, Hall plans to co-op before he graduates.
Garrett Roy is a graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School and is studying mechanical engineering. A junior at Lamar, Roy is employed this spring as a co-op engineer at Lyondell's Bayport, Texas plant.
